Skip to content
Full Story artwork

Full Story

The Guardian·Hosted by Reged Ahmad, Nour Haydar and Jonathan Yerushalmy·299 episodes

NewsDaily news analysisGuardian journalismAustralian politicsReporter conversationsOccasional series15-30 min/ep

Guardian Australia's daily news podcast. Every weekday, join Guardian journalists for a deeper understanding of the news in Australia and beyond. You can support The Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport

Why listen

Full Story gives you Guardian Australia reporting in a compact daily format, usually through a host speaking with the journalist closest to the story. It is strongest when Australian politics, social issues, media, climate, courts, and international events need more context than a headline can carry. Listeners who want a serious but accessible news explainer for the commute will feel at home.

Series(4)

Episodes

26 min
Jun 4, 2026
Newsroom Edition: Are falling house prices a trap for Labor?

Josephine Tovey speaks with Gabrielle Jackson, Patrick Keneally and Jonathan Barrett about why Labor is damned if they do, and damned if they don’t, when it comes to the diabolical political conundrum of trying to solve the housing affordability crisis without bringing down house prices

25 min
Jun 3, 2026
A daughter’s plea to halt her father’s deportation to Nauru

When Australia’s high court ruled indefinite immigration detention unlawful in 2023, Sara’s* father returned home to Australia’s east coast after years in onshore immigration detention. He is just one of the more than 350 people who make up what’s known as the NZYQ cohort, which includes individuals who have had their visas cancelled on character grounds but cannot be deported to their country of origin. Last year the Australian government signed a secretive deal to deport members of the group to Nauru on 30-year visas, and Sara fears her father could be next. She speaks to Nour Haydar *Not her real name • Sara fears her father will be deported from Australia to Nauru – a place of ‘final and lifelong punishment’

28 min
Jun 3, 2026
Decoding America: Trump is throwing a party for himself. Will Americans RSVP?

Co-hosts Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy ask where it all went wrong for the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations as artists pull out of a scheduled concert series and celebrations. Also: the California governor primary race, why it matters and which candidate has a character based on him in Armando Iannucci’s The Thick of It

19 min
Jun 2, 2026
One Nation and the brewing anti-abortion culture war

Support for Pauline Hanson’s populist party has given fresh impetus to a loose network of activists trying to chip away at reproductive rights.Reged Ahmad speaks with Tory Shepherd about whether this brewing movement will mirror the culture war in the US

24 min
Jun 1, 2026
Peter Garrett on why Australians deserve the truth about Aukus

Former environment minister Peter Garrett will lead an independent inquiry into the Aukus defence pact, launched by a group of Labor veterans and public figures concerned proper scrutiny has never been applied to the $368bn defence plan. The group argues there has never been a more critical time to examine the cost and potential risk associated with our increasingly close ties with the United States military. Peter Garrett joins Nour Haydar to discuss whether Aukus will make us safer – or turn us into a nuclear target

20 min
May 31, 2026
Why is Tony Abbott back?

Former prime minister Tony Abbott didn’t exactly disappear from the limelight after he lost his seat in the ‘teal’ wave of 2019, but his new role as Liberal president has many asking: why is the party bringing him back now? Chief political correspondent Dan Jervis-Bardy speaks to Nour Haydar about how Abbott’s appointment could change the party – and shape conservative politics in Australia

6 min
May 30, 2026
The Sunday read: what the NDIS cuts reveal about Australia’s ‘warped’ priorities

It’s been more than two weeks since the Albanese government handed down the federal budget and the criticism has not stopped. Guardian columnist and chief economist at the Australia Institute, Greg Jericho, argues despite Australians with disabilities copping the biggest cuts in the budget, hearts bleed only for the wealthy

34 min
May 29, 2026
Back to Back Barries: Is Labor in trouble over tax?

Tony Barry and Barrie Cassidy examine the government’s struggle to sell its ambitious tax changes as the legislation hit parliament this week. The Barries also look at the pros and cons of a ‘teal’ party and dig into new Redbridge polling that shows One Nation could overtake the Liberals as the official opposition

28 min
May 28, 2026
Newsroom Edition: Why a ‘teal party’ could backfire

The rise of One Nation continues to drive a realignment on the right of Australian politics. This week, we saw signs of a possible shift in the progressive centre. A handful of independent parliamentarians have spoken up about the possibility for a new teal-tinged party. It comes as the government pushes ahead with budget reform after worsening poll numbers for the prime minister, and Tony Abbott is set to be crowned as the next president of the Liberal party. Jo Tovey speaks with Mike Ticher and Dan Jervis-Bardy about the week in politics and if a potential ‘teal party’ would be good news for One Nation

29 min
May 28, 2026
Human rights lawyer Francesca Albanese on life under US sanctions - Podcast

The UN special rapporteur for Palestine, Francesca Albanese, discusses the war in Gaza, living under US sanctions, and the antisemitism accusations she has faced over the last two years

26 min
May 27, 2026
Decoding America: the Republicans turning on Trump

Co-hosts Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy look at whether the Iran war, a new $1.8bn ‘anti-weaponisation’ fund and Donald Trump’s intervention in Republican primaries is turning his own party against him. They also look at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert going off air, and whether it signals the end of American political satire. You can support the Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport

26 min
May 26, 2026
The death penalty returns to Israel

Earlier this month, Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, celebrated his 50th birthday – with a noose-themed cake, and a message written in icing: ‘Sometimes dreams come true.’ As the Guardian’s senior Middle East correspondent, Emma Graham-Harrison, explains, for decades Israel had an effective moratorium on capital punishment. Yet in the past two months it has passed two laws around the death penalty – to be applied seemingly only to Palestinians. Annie Kelly asks about this new era of the Israeli justice system, and whether there are any dissenting voices in the country against it

21 min
May 25, 2026
David Pocock on whether a 'teal' party is possible

There has been a whirlwind of speculation about whether the ‘teal’ independents could come together to form a new political party. According to independent MP Zali Steggall, the time is ripe for a strong push from the progressive side of politics, as new polling predicts One Nation could overtake the Coalition as the leading opposition party. Independent senator David Pocock says he is open to the idea but that it is not without risks. He speaks to Reged Ahmad

20 min
May 25, 2026
Exclusive: Leaked documents show BHP’s climate backtrack

Nour Haydar speaks with Christopher Knaus about the BHP files – the cache of internal documents leaked to the Guardian and the ABC’s Four Corners – which show that the world’s biggest miner has war-gamed ways to massively delay decarbonisation

17 min
May 24, 2026
New Zealand grapples with how to protect its braided rivers

Braided rivers are a stunning and rare global phenomenon – waterways that change direction and size, weaving multiple dynamic patterns influenced by rain and glacial shifts.Reged Ahmad speaks to New Zealand correspondent Eva Corlett about how the waterways are now under threat as communities around them have sought to tame and control their flow, leaving Māori tribes to watch the ecological impact with horror. You can support the Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport

8 min
May 23, 2026
The Sunday read: the NT government's 'alarming' response to Kumanjayi Little Baby’s death

After the death of the Warlpiri girl Kumanjayi Little Baby, the Northern Territory government announced a sweeping review of its child protection system. The terms of the inquiry, however, have been heavily criticised by First Nations and justice organisations. Prof Marcia Langton reads a piece she co-authored with Prof Fiona Stanley in which they argue that authorities are repeating mistakes of the past and failing Aboriginal children Warning: This episode contains references to Indigenous Australians who have died

30 min
May 23, 2026
Tim Wilson on the Liberals’ economic vision

In his biggest address so far, shadow treasurer Tim Wilson described the federal budget as an ‘economic earthquake’ at the National Press Club. He speaks to political editor Tom McIlroy about Paul Keating’s criticism of the Coalition’s response to Labor’s tax reforms and defends Angus Taylor’s controversial migration policy – which links housing completion to immigration and restricts access to welfare support

39 min
May 21, 2026
Back to Back Barries live: How long will Angus Taylor survive as Liberal leader?

In this special recording of the Barries in front of a live audience of 600 at the Sydney Writers’ festival, Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry discuss why budget criticism is hurting Labor more than many anticipated. They also examine the Coalition’s many leadership changes and ask who could take the reins next Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

25 min
May 20, 2026
Decoding America: Who really writes Trump’s Truth Social posts?

Host Reged Ahmad and the Guardian’s US site editor Jonathan Yerushalmy examine Republican Thomas Massie’s loss in the Kentucky primary after a vicious attack campaign fulled by Donald Trump. They also look at the president’s penchant for posting directly to social media and the woman who pens the posts

16 min
May 19, 2026
Ebola, hantavirus: can the world avert another pandemic?

It has been nearly three weeks since the first reports that a rare hantavirus had spread through a cruise ship, killing three people and infecting others. And now, the World Health Organization has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic ‌of Congo and Uganda a ‘public health emergency of international concern’. While these outbreaks are unconnected and remain low risk for Australia, questions are being asked about how prepared authorities are for another global outbreak. Medical editor Melissa Davey speaks to Nour Haydar about the two viruses causing health authorities to reexamine their pandemic plans

27 min
May 18, 2026
Patrick Radden Keefe on power and greed in London

In Sydney before his Australian book tour, investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe speaks to Reged Ahmad about his Australian roots and his new book, London Falling, which examines the mysterious death of a teenager who posed as a Russian billionaire and his family’s search for truth about the end of their son’s life

17 min
May 17, 2026
Coles caught red handed, so what next?

Australian retailers are on notice after the federal court handed down a landmark judgment against the nation’s second-largest supermarket chain. Coles was found to have misled shoppers by promoting discounts that were not real after the Australian consumer watchdog launched legal action in 2024. Business editor Jonathan Barrett tells Nour Haydar why the court found Coles misled consumers, what the ruling means for the retailer’s reputation and whether it will mean cheaper prices at the checkout

35 min
May 17, 2026
Stateside: Stacey Abrams on why gutting of the US Voting Rights Act is ‘evil’

The US supreme court demolished the 1965 Voting Rights Act when it ruled in Louisiana v Callais in April that states can’t consider race in redistricting. Southern states from Tennessee to Alabama have rushed to erase majority-Black districts, sparking chaos for the midterm elections. In the first episode of Guardian US’s video podcast Stateside, co-host Kai Wright talks with Stacey Abrams, voting rights activist and former Georgia house minority leader. They discuss the fallout from the decision, and why Abrams still thinks the way forward is through engaging more voters to participate in democracy: ‘They have fractured communities and said we’re going to scatter these seeds. Our job is to grow’

8 min
May 16, 2026
The Sunday read: Scapegoating migrants and anger at a failing political system

One Nation’s historic win in Farrer has drawn conservative politicians into yet another harmful debate about immigration. Author Sisonke Msimang says blaming migrants won’t ease the pain disillusioned voters are feeling

28 min
May 15, 2026
Back to Back Barries: Angus Taylor’s migration muddle

Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry deliver their verdict on the federal budget – including opposition leader Angus Taylor’s targeting of migrants in an effort to solve the housing crisis. They also discuss Pauline Hanson’s soon-to-be released energy policy and why dissatisfaction with Labor isn’t translating into more votes for the Greens

28 min
May 15, 2026
Jim Chalmers responds to the budget’s critics

The political editor, Tom McIlroy, and the economics editor, Patrick Commins, speak with Jim Chalmers about the criticisms that his ‘reforming’ and ‘ambitious’ budget, while historic, stands to benefit only a relatively small number of Australians. The treasurer also explains why the budget didn’t include an increase in tax for gas exports, and how this government is putting forward an economic strategy to address the anxieties that lead voters to turn to populism on the right

19 min
May 14, 2026
Newsroom Edition: Labor broke a promise for bold reform. Does it matter?

In a big gamble, Labor broke a big promise. In this week’s budget, the government announced changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing. The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, is suggesting it’s the broken promise we had to have, in order to tackle intergenerational inequality and make the tax system fairer. Reged Ahmad speaks with Mike Ticher, Patrick Keneally and Sarah Martin about when broken promises matter in politics

18 min
May 13, 2026
Will renaming this health condition lead to better care for women?

PCOS is a hormonal disorder that, according to the World Health Organization, affects 10% to 13% of women of reproductive age. It is estimated that more than two-thirds of those who have it don’t know that they do. The name of the condition has – in part – been blamed for the poor treatment many patients experience. Women’s health experts say the name is misleading and outdated. It is now officially being changed. Assistant science editor Donna Lu speaks to Nour Haydar about why polycystic ovary syndrome has been renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome – or PMOS – in the hope it will reduce confusion and lead to better care

28 min
May 13, 2026
Decoding America: Trump takes tech bros to China

On the eve of Donald Trump’s trip to Beijing, co-hosts Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy examine how the US president’s approach to relations with Xi Jinping has changed since he first ran for office, and what both leaders expect to get from the meeting. They also look at the tech CEOs travelling with Trump, including Tesla’s Elon Musk and Apple’s Tim Cook, and why trade will be such a focus of the visit. Also: how did Trump’s ballroom blow out to its billion-dollar price tag? And who will pay for it?

21 min
May 12, 2026
Labor’s ‘ambitious’ budget: will it be enough to fix the housing crisis?

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has handed down what he calls the most important budget in decades. As Donald Trump’s war on Iran continues to cause chaos around the world, and support for One Nation surges in Australia, the treasurer insists this is a budget that will ease economic pressures. But does the bold rhetoric stack up? And will this budget be enough to stem the rise of the populist right? Nour Haydar speaks with Tom Mcllroy and Patrick Commins, who break down a budget that comes with big reforms and big questions

26 min
May 12, 2026
Why does everyone hate Keir Starmer?

Aditya Chakrabortty on the Labour leader’s predicament – and if he may be the last prime minister of the two-party system

15 min
May 11, 2026
Bullying or entertainment? Inside the Kyle and Jackie O courtroom

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson may have left the airwaves but the former radio duo have now taken the show’s drama into the courtroom as they do battle in separate cases over the terminations of their $100m contracts. Media correspondent Amanda Meade speaks to Reged Ahmad about what it’s like inside the courtroom and whether this case could herald the end of the big-name radio star’s career

24 min
May 10, 2026
One Nation’s historic win in Farrer

On Saturday, the rightwing party won a lower-house seat for the first time as voters registered their fury in the Farrer byelection. And while newly elected MP, David Farley, may have been on the ticket, many are saying this is very much Pauline Hanson’s victory. Senior correspondent Sarah Martin and political reporter Sarah Basford Canales speak to Reged Ahmad from Albury the morning after the seismic result

6 min
May 9, 2026
The Sunday read: Paul Daley on going the distance in an EV

Amid fuel insecurity due to the US-Israel war on Iran, Guardian Australia columnist Paul Daley takes his first holiday driving an electric vehicle. Staring down the uncertainty of a long drive and battery-charging breaks – he learns something beautiful along the way

32 min
May 8, 2026
Back to back Barries: One Nation’s Trump-sized achilles heel

Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry dive into new Redbridge polling that shows Pauline Hanson’s support of Donald Trump’s war on Iran could turn voters off. They also discuss the upcoming federal budget, the returning IS-linked families and listener feedback on last week’s gas tax debate

32 min
May 7, 2026
Newsroom Edition: Michelle Milthorpe on fighting One Nation in Farrer

This Saturday’s byelection in Sussan Ley’s former seat of Farrer is expected to be a tight two-horse race between a community independent and a One Nation candidate – with none of the major parties in serious contention. The independent candidate, Michelle Milthorpe, speaks to the political editor, Tom McIlroy, on the Australian Politics podcast about her second time vying for the regional seat, why she resists being labelled as a ‘teal’ and her position on climate and environmental policies in her electorate

36 min
May 7, 2026
An Infowars insider on the warped world of Alex Jones

As the satirical online newspaper the Onion waits for court approval to take over the conspiracy website Infowars, Helen Pidd speaks to a former staff member about its sinister rise and dramatic fall

25 min
May 6, 2026
Does Labor have the appetite for reform?

This week marked the start of Anthony Albanese’s fifth year in power. His time in office so far has often been described as ‘cautious’ and risk averse, and it’s left some posing the question: what is Labor’s vision for the nation? Why is it so centrist? Chief political correspondent Dan Jervis-Bardy speaks to Nour Haydar about the the evolution of Labor’s left

24 min
May 6, 2026
Decoding America: The US says war with Iran is over - is it?

When is a war not a war? When politics is involved. Co-hosts Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy look at the White House’s insistence that Operation Epic Fury is over – even as the blockade of the strait of Hormuz continues. Also in this episode, a supreme court decision that could ricochet around the country when it comes to how free and fair the midterm elections might be. And there was no shortage of column inches applauding the King’s visit to the US last week, but what did anyone really get out of it?

18 min
May 5, 2026
Everyone is talking about Farrer, here is what you need to know

This weekend’s byelection in the NSW regional electorate of Farrer could yield a historic result that signifies a shift in Australia’s political landscape. Since its creation, the seat has always been held by a Liberal or National candidate – the last being former opposition leader Sussan Ley, whose resignation triggered this vote. But the frontrunners this time are not from any of the major parties. Instead, it’s tipped to be a hotly contested battle between an independent and a One Nation candidate who could be the party’s first ever elected to the lower house. Political reporter Sarah Basford Canales speaks to Reged Ahmad about why this election matters

17 min
May 4, 2026
'Hope shifted to grief': the death of Kumanjayi Little Baby

Jefferson Lewis has been charged with murder over the death of Kumanjayi Little Baby near Alice Springs. The Warlpiri girl went missing on Saturday 25 April from a town camp and was found dead five days later. Indigenous affairs reporter Douglas Smith speaks to Nour Haydar about the charges facing Lewis and how the community is grieving

18 min
May 3, 2026
Bondi royal commission: what more could have been done?

The interim report of the royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion has handed down its first 14 recommendations. It says there is no gap in current laws that could have prevented the shooting. But the 155-page report calls for better policing of Jewish festivals after a ‘high’ terror risk was flagged for the Hanukkah event where 15 people were killed. Reged Ahmad and Ben Doherty discuss why the inquiry’s first findings raise more questions than answers

5 min
May 2, 2026
The Sunday read: Malcolm Turnbull’s stark warning to the Liberals

The Farrer byelection is just days away and the former prime minister has stern words for his party: ‘Echo the hateful policies of One Nation and risk becoming a recruiting agent for extremist groups’

32 min
May 1, 2026
Back to Back Barries: Focus on Farrer

Barrie Cassidy gives his take on the mood in Farrer after moderating a debate with the candidates in Albury, while Tony Barry raises new statistics that show India has overcome England as Australia’s leading overseas country of birth and asks why so many politicians fail to understand Australia today. Also on the table: rising inflation, negative gearing and Albanese’s decision not to tax gas giants

24 min
Apr 30, 2026
Newsroom Edition: the ugly politics of chasing One Nation

There were ugly scenes at Anzac Day dawn services when a small handful of people booed during the welcome to country in several cities. Most politicians condemned the behaviour, including opposition leader Angus Taylor, but he nevertheless said the next day that he thought the ceremonies were ‘overused’ and that he understood Australians’ frustration with them. In the same interview, he also said in relation to immigration there was a higher risk ‘that some bad people’ come from ‘bad countries’. Jo Tovey sits down with Mike Ticher, Patrick Keneally and Krishani Dhanji to discuss the risks of chasing One Nation to the right

26 min
Apr 30, 2026
Guardian Essential poll: Pauline Hanson has another breakthrough

The One Nation leader now has a higher job approval rating than Anthony Albanese and Angus Taylor, and, for the first time in the Essential poll, the rightwing populist party is outperforming the Coalition. After Anthony Albanese confirmed on Wednesday that the upcoming federal budget will not include a tax on existing gas export contracts, political reporter Josh Butler and columnist Peter Lewis examine voters’ support for taxing profits on gas exports. They also discuss the government’s challenge of preparing a budget for an electorate that is increasingly pessimistic about the country’s economic future

25 min
Apr 29, 2026
Mitch Brown on the AFL’s homophobia problem

The AFL has again found itself embroiled in allegations of on-field homophobia. St Kilda’s Lance Collard was handed a nine-week suspension for using a homophobic slur. His penalty was reduced on appeal but the reasoning given by the appeals board has angered many. Former West Coast AFL footballer Mitch Brown, who last year became the first player to come out as bisexual, says the decision is both disappointing and dangerous. He speaks to Nour Haydar

29 min
Apr 29, 2026
Is Sanae Takaichi the most powerful woman in the world?

Justin McCurry on Japan’s heavy metal-loving prime minister and her plan to amend the country’s pacifist constitution

28 min
Apr 28, 2026
Decoding America: Is the US’s political violence the worst it has ever been?

In the wake of the shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner, Donald Trump and the White House machine have come out fighting – blaming the press and the Democratic party for increased violence against politicians. Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy examine where the stark divide between Democrats and Republicans might have started. Meanwhile, Usha Vance has launched a new podcast – but why? And, what will King Charles’s visit to the White House tell us about Trump’s relationship with the UK monarchy?

24 min
Apr 27, 2026
David Smith inside the White House press dinner shooting

When gunshots were heard from inside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night, attendees weren’t sure what was happening or if they were in danger. It soon emerged that suspected gunman Cole Tomas Allen, 31 of Torrance, California had been arrested by security officials. Allen was armed with knives, a shotgun and a handgun at the time of arrest. Sitting at his table inside the lavish room as the events unfolded was the Guardian’s Washington DC bureau chief David Smith. He spoke to Nour Haydar about what is known about the alleged gunman’s motivations, the panic inside the room when the shots were fired and what questions are being asked about the event’s security protocols.